Back before Cocoa & Lavender was even a twinkle in my eye…
Before Markipedia and I lived in Maine… Before the internet… Before, when I lived alone in Delmar, New York, which is nowhere near the sea… Before I had ever visited Italy and learned that true Italian food is amazing…
I had a vegetarian friend who lived in the Hudson River Valley who was so excited to make an Italian recipe for me when I visited.
“It’s amazing!” he gushed. “It has tons and tons of garlic…” … !!! “Whoa, stop!” I said. And, you know the rest.
He ended up making it for me, convincing himself that shallots would be just as good as garlic. And, in the end, they were! Aside from the shallots it had broccoli florets, lots of olive oil, and a few red pepper flakes served over farfalle with some Parmesan cheese.
Years later, having become familiar with authentic uses of different pasta forms, I realized what he was using what was available locally to make a version of Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa. Neither cime di rapa nor orecchiette were available in small towns in New York. It was the 80s, after all.
Cime di rapa – also known as broccoli rabe or rapini – is still hard to find now. For years, when I have made this dish, I have simply used broccolini, which works fine. But whenever I see Cime di Rapa, I grab a bunch! Recently, the Cochise Family Farm stand at our market offered some, and I knew we were in for a treat.
To go with it, we had some artisanal orecchiette from our friends Susan and Towny, home-cured pancetta (obviously, this is NOT the vegetarian version), lots of sweet shallots, homegrown chiltepins, and a chunk of incredible Parmigiano-Reggiano made from the milk of red cows, which was a gift brought from Italy by our friends Annamaria and Giuseppe.
I haven’t spoken to my friend in the Hudson Valley for over 30 years… but I thank him every time I make this recipe.
~ David
Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa
1 large bunch cime di rapa, or rapini/broccoli rabe
12 ounces orecchiette
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 large shallots, peeled and diced
4 ounces pancetta, diced
red pepper flakes, to taste
freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, for serving
Trim the cime di rapa. Start by cutting off the florets and set them aside. Slice the stems no thicker than 1/4 inch thick. Set them aside, as well.
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the orecchiette and set the timer for three minutes prior to their finish time. For example, if they cook in 12 minutes, set the timer for 9 minutes.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and add the pancetta. When it has begun to render its fat, reduce the heat to medium and add the shallots and red pepper flakes. When the pancetta is golden and the shallots are clear, turn off the heat.
When the timer sounds, add the sliced cime di rapa stems to the pasta. After a minute or so, add the florets. (If the florets are large, I add them after 1 minute. If they are small, I wait 2 minutes.)
When the orecchiette has cooked fully, use a spider to remove the pasta and cime di rapa; reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Add the pasta and cime di rapa to the skillet with the pancetta and shallots, and toss to coat the pasta. Turn the heat to medium-high. When it’s hot, add enough pasta water – about 1/4 cup to start – to make a silky sauce.
Serve immediately with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Serves 4.
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Sippity Sup
April 13, 2019 at 2:39 pmIn Los Angeles the trouble with broccoli rabe (known as broccoletti in Rome, cime di rapa in Puglia, and rapini in Tuscany. Sorry for the nerdiness but I just happen to be reading an old Marcella Hazen book right now and she makes a point of naming the regional differences). Anyway, my trouble isn't necessarily finding it as much as finding people who won't screw up their nose and stick out their tongue when faced with what I think is its slight and pleasant bitterness. GREG
Cocoa & Lavender
April 13, 2019 at 3:41 pmAhhh, I missed the broccoletti! Thanks for catching that – I will update the post today!
Yes, people are funny about bitter tastes – but they are missing out.
Susan Oleksiw
April 13, 2019 at 5:26 pmThis looks so simple and lovely.
Cocoa & Lavender
April 14, 2019 at 1:51 pmIt is, Susan – both simple and yummy!
Nutmeg
April 13, 2019 at 9:11 pmDelizioso!
Cocoa & Lavender
April 14, 2019 at 1:51 pmGrazie, Carolyne!
Fran @ Gday Souffle
April 13, 2019 at 9:36 pmI have never heard of rapini before- what a font of information you are, David! I am now referring to you as my "Italian Food Expert"!
Cocoa & Lavender
April 14, 2019 at 1:52 pmFran – it’s a slightly bitter, mustardy green… and best then it has decent-sized florets. Often I mostly see a lot of greens.
Eha
April 14, 2019 at 1:05 amA delightful Sunday morning story and an appetizing pasta dish attendant. Shall probably use Chinese broccoli as the rabe is not always available here in the country either. May a very ignorant Aussie ask – what are chiltepins: yes, one can grow them, but . . . 🙂 ?
Cocoa & Lavender
April 14, 2019 at 1:54 pmChiltepins are an ancient form of capsicum that grow in our desert, Eha. It is said that it is the originating plant of almost all the peppers we eat, whether sweet or hot. We have several plants but red pepper flakes are a good choice for this dish. And so is the Chinese broccoli!
Christina | Christina's Cucina
April 14, 2019 at 3:25 amOne of my FAVORITES! One popular way to make this is with fresh Italian sausage (crumbled) with the rapini. I don't think you can go wrong any way you make it! Now I'm hungry!
Cocoa & Lavender
April 14, 2019 at 1:55 pmI also make it with sausage, Christina – but I had all that home-cured pancetta… 🙂
Valentina
April 14, 2019 at 3:54 amSounds fabulous. I bet the shallots totally do the trick. Must have made quite an impression when you first tried it. I've always loved Orecchiette pasta dishes. A favorite shape. Wondering if that's sorta like choosing wine by the label? Ha! 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
April 14, 2019 at 1:55 pmThe shalltos add such a lovely sweetness to the dish, Valentina. Orecchiette is a wonderful shape and so good for catching all the sauce!
Emma @ Bake Then Eat
April 14, 2019 at 5:03 amIt's great when substitutions work out for the best and you end up creating a brand new better dish.
Cocoa & Lavender
April 14, 2019 at 1:56 pmThanks, Emma – this is a favorite of ours to serve to vegetarian guests (minus the pancetta, of course)… and it is quite addictive! We make just enough for 2, lest we eat a recipe made for 4 or 6!
Chef Mimi
April 14, 2019 at 11:28 amPick up the phone!!! I bet your friend would love to read this post! This is a beautiful dish. I’d also love cayenne pepper flakes sprinkled on top. I love it on broccoli… and on pasta. I was trying to explain the other day to someone who loves our local Italian restaurant that it’s really not Italian food, and nobody really gets it. So unless people make an effort to buy an Italian cookbook and/or go to Italy, they will continue to think that spaghetti is all that Italians eat. Sad. But, more for us!
Cocoa & Lavender
April 14, 2019 at 1:58 pmThanks, Mimi. Oh, are we preaching to the choice. So few people know what actual Italian cuisine tastes like… and it’s sad when they get to Italy that they are disappointed because it doesn’t taste like the Olive Garden. Sheesh! The simplicity is the beauty of the cuisine – I just wish peopl would realize it! But you are right – more for us!
Ron
April 14, 2019 at 1:23 pmDavid, your Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa looks incredibly tasty. A lovely dish when honored the way you did. I love your image with the bright red colored chiltepins.
Mimi is so right regarding what some people think is Italian food. Many "Italian" restaurants I've visited don't even come close to being the real Ideal. But then most Chinese restaurants don't either.
Cocoa & Lavender
April 14, 2019 at 2:00 pmThat is so true, Ron – Chinese, Italian, Mexican, and even French. We, in the US, tend to overdo everything and make it unauthentic.
Glad you look the orecchiette – is rapini easy to find in Sweden?
Kelly | Foodtasia
April 14, 2019 at 5:16 pmDavid, all of your lovely ingredients are making me drool over this dish!
Cocoa & Lavender
April 16, 2019 at 1:40 pmThanks, Kelly! You are so sweet!
Frank
April 15, 2019 at 12:03 pmIt's interesting about dishes get adapted to local conditions, isn't it? And personal tastes/needs. I love this dish—it's one of our regular rotations, especially in the cooler months. I want to try out your version made with shallots instead of garlic, and pancetta instead of anchovies. Sounds very nice indeed. And actually, farfalle sound like a fair substitute for orecchiette, even if they lack that pleasant chewiness I bet they catch the condimento pretty well.
Cocoa & Lavender
April 16, 2019 at 1:41 pmAnd I can’t wait to try your version with anchovies, Frank! That sounds wonderful! The farfalle worked well, as you imagined, but there is nothing like orecchiette!
Sonia
April 15, 2019 at 8:42 pmGreat post. Keep sharing your creative insights and keep inspiring us! Happy Easter to you ! Lots of luv n regards, Sonia
Cocoa & Lavender
April 16, 2019 at 1:42 pmThanks, Sonia! I love your blog, too – the rose halvah was beautiful but I couldn’t find a place to comment. I really must try it!
All That I'm Eating
April 16, 2019 at 6:49 amI love how you've used the cime de rapa in this, such a delicious sounding recipe!
Cocoa & Lavender
April 16, 2019 at 1:44 pmThanks, Caroline – the tradition of cucina povera has really brought us so many wonderful Italian dishes. And – like this one – they are so tasty!
Andrea_TheKitchenLioness
April 16, 2019 at 4:42 pmDear David, Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa is one of my favorite Italian recipes. And, yes, even these days it can be a bit of a challenge to get my hands on delicious Orecchiette or Cima di Rapa, but I know it is worth the extra effort, every single time. Your version sounds delicious and looks stunning! And I love the story behind this blog post!
Liebe Grüße an euch beide aus dem sonnigen Bonn!
Andrea
Cocoa & Lavender
April 17, 2019 at 1:35 pmVielen Dank, Andrea – I would have thought rapini would be much easier to find for you… but I am sad it is not! Hope you are all enjoy ing the sunshine!
Marcelle
April 16, 2019 at 10:38 pmDavid, I have heard of broccoli rabe, but I've never eaten it! I'll be keeping and eye out for it at my store though. I love dishes like this one with just a few ingredients but a ton of flavor. Looks really good!!
Cocoa & Lavender
April 17, 2019 at 1:35 pmIt has a good bite to it, Marcelle – I love it but some don't! I hope you can find some to try!
Kitchen Riffs
April 17, 2019 at 3:49 pmBitter greens and pasta are SUCH a nice combo. Love this dish, and it's been ages since I've made it. In the late 80s and early 90s I lived in the lower Hudson valley — in Croton-on-Hudson. That was close enough to the big city that it was pretty easy to find cime di rapa back then. But really, in a pinch any dark green should work in this dish (won't have the same flavor, of course, but it'll be good). Good recipe — thanks.
Cocoa & Lavender
April 20, 2019 at 6:30 pmFunny – I was so close to that area and never saw rapini, John! But maybe I wasn't looking in the right places! And, you are right – most dark greens work will with this!
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
April 18, 2019 at 2:42 pmDavid, I love it when someone like your friend comes to find out that there IS life without garlic! This sounds sooo good, I've pinned it for future (near future) reference.
Cocoa & Lavender
April 20, 2019 at 6:30 pmOh, how we suffer, Jean! 🙂 It is really good with the shallots! Enjoy!
John | heneedsfood
April 19, 2019 at 10:30 pmYou've rekindled my craving for orecchiette, David, and reading and seeing this recipe has prompted me to make it for dinner. I know I won't find rabe anywhere around here, but broccolini is almost always available.
Thanks to a very kind friend, I still have some dried chiltepins in my spice cupboard 😉 I may have to slip in a small clove of garlic, too!
Cocoa & Lavender
April 20, 2019 at 6:31 pmI think you will enjoy it with or without the garlic, John! And I love the chewiness of the orrechiette!
Inger @ Art of Natural Living
April 21, 2019 at 9:29 pmYou had me on the edge of my seat when he replaced the garlic with shallots! Looks amazing!
Cocoa & Lavender
April 25, 2019 at 1:45 pm🙂 – I love suspense, don't you!? Look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks!
sherry
April 26, 2019 at 11:49 amthis does look very tasty. home-cured pancetta? how marvellous. and i am amazed that people can bring cheese in from another country. we would be fined a huge amount of money if we tried that here in australia. 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
April 28, 2019 at 7:18 pmI don't want to know how the cheese made it here… best not to ask any questions, I say! Thanks for your comment, Sherry!
Provence WineZine
May 5, 2019 at 4:35 pmI am so glad you liked the pasta. As wonderful as it is, it is definitely not as ultra-wonderful as your homemade version. I love this recipe and reading this post(a couple of weeks ago)inspired us to make a very similar version with hot Italian sausage that day and it was, well, addictive!
Cocoa and Lavender
May 5, 2019 at 4:55 pmYou are too kind, Susan! I had such fun making the orecchiette with you that evening and I think your sausage version sounds amazing!